Red Leather (Book 2)

Chapter 28

Chapter 28

 

Getting him out was ridiculously easy.

With the ruckus and noise my party was causing, I hadn't been spared a single glance as I led a confused, stumbling Nathan out of the front doors and into the night. Hopefully nobody would notice that the birthday girl is gone. I had underestimated just how loud the party had been – the thud of music could be heard from miles. Surely the neighbours had something to say.

But then again, the neighbours loved me. Everybody loved me.

Almost everybody.

"Where are we going?" Nathan asked, trying and failing to balance himself. I kept a tight grip on him as we headed to the awaiting car, but it was more for myself than for him. With my luggage over one shoulder, and Nathan leaning on the other, I decided that there was absolutely nothing left here for me.

This was it. The start of everything.

Coming to Alistair was the greatest decision of my life. I had caused enough pain and bloodshed to rival that of a serial killer. I had climbed up the ranks and become one of the most influential names in school. And most importantly, I had eliminated my one true enemy and taken what was hers.

Well, what was now mine. I like to think that Nathan had never belonged to her in the first place.

Did the little girl of six, kneeling over the carcass of a rabbit she had killed, know just how many things her little accident had triggered? Of course not. Did she have any idea just how brilliant and cunning she would eventually become?

Maybe.

I have had many brilliant plans in my life. But this was the most brilliant of all.

I opened the backseat, not wasting any time as I pushed Nathan inside as gently as I could. He fell back and laughed, not at all minding that I hadn't answered his question. "It's too dark in here. You sure this is my car? Jess?"

I saw Eli grit his teeth, backing out from between two cars as soon as I had my door shut. I checked the time and swore loudly. One in the morning. I had taken too long to dress Nathan, and now we were really under the pump.

"How fast do you think you can go?" I had no time for any pleasant exchanges and recaps – though I would've been more than happy to hear, in excruciating detail, just how loud Chloe had screamed for mercy. Too bad I hadn't heard it. Too bad I hadn't seen it.

Lights and cars blurred past us at an alarming rate, and I had to trust that Eli was sober. Getting yourselves killed now, when we were so close, would unravel it all. And I had no intentions of getting caught.

Eli's grip tightened on the steering wheel, spinning it wildly as he swerved his way through traffic. The gas station was so close, I imagined that I could smell it. "This is the fastest I can go without crashing straight into traffic," he grunted, concentrating hard. "Though you'd like that, wouldn't you? A big, dramatic end to your eighteenth birthday."

I glared at him, menace brewing through the slits of my eyes. The copy Jessabel's dress was all lace and sheer, rubbing against my back and making it burn. The discomfort meant nothing, and yet it made me more irritated.

"We have under fifteen minutes, Eli. Don't test my patience," I warned through gritted teeth. I knew that the fight would be forgotten as quickly as it had started, so I tried to keep my own temper under control. Our relationship had always been explosive.  

His lips twitched. "Put your fucking patience away. We're here. And be quick." My door was wide open before he even pulled into the shabby petrol station, and I rushed in as quick as possible, scanning the driveway as I pushed open the glass door. Three cars, two rusted and abandoned. One surveillance camera, another one inside. Four missing persons posters.